Josh Hokit posted screenshots of a conversation with Paulo Costa in which Costa demanded $100,000, telling Hokit to return his money. The exchange escalated into insults, with Hokit responding with crude jokes and calling Costa a "stupid Brazilian" in the post caption. Costa mentioned eating lots of pizza to move up in weight to fight Hokit. The context behind Costa's financial demand was not explained in the post. The conversation highlights ongoing tension between the two fighters.
Josh Hokit went public this week with a private text exchange between himself and Paulo Costa, posting screenshots that show Costa demanding $100,000 and telling Hokit to return his money.
The conversation quickly turned hostile. Costa referenced eating large amounts of pizza as a way to bulk up and move to a higher weight class in order to fight Hokit, while Hokit responded with crude humor and captioned his post by calling Costa a "stupid Brazilian." The context behind Costa's financial demand was not explained in the post, leaving the nature of whatever arrangement exists between the two men unclear.
Costa, nicknamed "The Eraser," carries a 16-4 record and currently sits ranked 13th in the UFC middleweight division. The 35-year-old Brazilian trains out of Team Borracha and fights out of an orthodox stance, standing six-foot-one with a 72-inch reach. He is one of the more prolific pressure strikers in the division, landing 6.26 significant strikes per minute at a 58 percent accuracy rate.
Hokit, known as "The Incredible Hok," is a 28-year-old undefeated prospect holding a perfect 5-0 record. He has not yet accumulated significant UFC-level statistical data, and his division is not confirmed in available records.
Why it matters
- The public airing of private messages adds a personal dimension to what now appears to be a genuine dispute between the two fighters
- Costa's mention of moving up in weight to face Hokit suggests the middleweight contender views the matchup as a mismatch, framing it as a statement fight
- The unresolved financial context leaves open questions about the origin of their beef, which could intensify if details emerge
